The Royal Artillery Factory of La Cavada was an artillery foundry was established in 1622 by Jean Curtius with the support of Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares. It became fully operational 15 years later. Between 1637 and 1835 the facility was responsible for the production of more than 26,000 cannons for ships and fortresses throughout the Spanish Empire.
It closed after the defeat of the Spanish at the Battle of Trafalgar.
References:Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.
The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.
These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.